Chapter 59: Chapter 59: System's Echoes of Conflict

Raelar sighed, shaking his head with what seemed almost amusement. "I suppose negotiations have failed. What a pity."

The room fell silent for a moment, like the calm before the storm. Lucien, leaning against the wall, looked at his two allies with a mixture of gratitude and concern.

"You don't have to do this," he murmured. "This is my battle."

Selene snorted without turning. "Shut up and save your strength, you idiot. You'll have time to be noble when we get out of this."

Raelar approached Lucien, his voice low and urgent, "Lucien, listen," he said, keeping an eye on their enemies. "Varick told us why you came. Your protégé, Elio, is probably in one of the cells. Go, save him. We'll handle this."

Selene, without taking her eyes off their opponents, nodded. "Hurry up, idiot. We don't have all day."

Raelar nodded slightly. "Besides," he added with an almost imperceptible smile, "things have been too quiet around here for too long."

Lucien hesitated for a moment, looking at his two allies. "Thank you," he said simply, before running out the door.

As Lucien disappeared down the hallway, Selene shot a mocking glance at their opponents. "Well, who wants to dance first?"

♢♢♢♢

While Lucien hurried through the corridors, the battle continued in the main hall. Selene and Raelar, fresh and in top form, had a clear advantage over the other five Summoners, worn out from their previous confrontation with Lucien.

Mordred barely dodged a fireball from Selene. "This is madness!" he shouted. "If we kill each other, we'll lose control of the city!"

Estin, however, was blinded by rage. "It doesn't matter!" he roared, launching a barrage of ice projectiles towards Raelar. "Someone must pay for what happened to Marcus!"

Raelar deflected the projectiles with an almost lazy movement of his hand. "Revenge is a dangerous path, Estin," he commented, his voice calm despite the chaos. "Perhaps you should consider if this is really what our families need."

♢♢♢♢

Meanwhile, Lucien ran through the complex's corridors, advancing with heavy but firm steps. His mana was almost depleted, but his body, forged by years of training, still responded to his will.

"Hold on, Elio," he muttered to himself. "I'm on my way."

Lucien Lythorien's Statistics

Skills:

Sacred Flame

Holy Water

Lucien had no time for this. With a quick movement, he used some of his remaining mana to create a gust of wind that sent the guards flying against the wall. They fell unconscious to the floor. Mana 5/40

"I'm sorry," Lucien muttered as he entered the vault. "But this is more important than your orders."

Inside the vault, Lucien moved with purpose. His eyes quickly scanned the rows of weapons and armor, he knew what he wanted: a level 5 armor and a lance of the same level. He donned the armor, feeling its familiar weight settle on his shoulders. The lance, intended for Elio, he held firmly in his hand.

♢♢♢♢

Meanwhile, in the boardroom, the battle continued. Selene had managed to incapacitate Kairos, while Raelar kept Varen and Lotar at bay.

"This has to stop!" Mordred shouted, dodging another attack. "We are the leaders of the city! We should be united!"

"Leaders? Is that what they call tyrants these days?" Selene replied, her voice laden with contempt. "No, thanks. I prefer to be on the right side of history."

Estin, however, wasn't listening to reason. With a cry of rage, he launched a massive ice attack towards Selene. She managed to dodge it at the last second.

"Estin, stop!" Lotar shouted. "You're going to get us all killed!"

But Estin was beyond reason. Blinded by rage, he prepared another massive attack. "You will pay for everything!" he roared.

♢♢♢♢

Elio closed the Book of Genesis with trembling hands, his mind still trying to process the avalanche of information he had just absorbed. The small cell seemed even more claustrophobic now, the indestructible stone walls a constant reminder of the revelations.

He got up slowly, his muscles protesting after hours of immobility, absorbed in reading. His eyes turned to the cell door, where Ivan, the old guard, remained at his post with the same stoic expression as always.

Elio knew he needed to share this information.

"Guard," Elio called, trying to keep his voice casual despite the whirlwind of emotions inside him. "Can I ask you a question?"

Ivan barely turned his head, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What do you want now? Even if you keep insisting, I won't bring you more food today, prisoner."

Elio approached the bars, clinging to them as if they were a lifeline in a sea of uncertainty. He took a deep breath, searching for the right words.

"I was wondering... Have you ever thought about what's beyond the wall?"

The question seemed to hang in the air for a moment. Ivan turned completely, his expression a mixture of irritation and curiosity.

"Be careful with what you say, boy," the guard growled. "That kind of thinking only brings trouble."

Elio nodded quickly, feigning remorse. "You're right, I'm sorry. It's just that being locked up here makes me think about strange things. Like... Why do monsters keep appearing no matter how many die at the barrier?"

Ivan took a step towards the cell, his voice lowering to a threatening whisper. "Listen to me carefully, kid. I don't know what you think you know, or where you heard it from, but I suggest you forget it. Fast."